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He started acting when he was two-and-a-half, and did a slew of films till he was 13. Then, he went through a difficult phase of transition that most child actors go through (“I was neither a boy nor a man”). But, he persisted with jobs behind the camera, doing still photography (he was assistant photographer in “Devar Magan”, and assisted cameraman Jayanan Vincent for a while), editing, music direction, and the like. And, there were niggling issues. “While shooting ‘Devar Magan’, Kamal Sir (who knows him from his “Jappanil Kalyanaraman” days) would ask me to lunch with him. That would irk the other technicians.”

Finally, the big break came with television. Serials such as “Kolangal”, “Lakshmi”, “Nimmadi” and “Naanayam” happened. And, then came Jodi Number 1, Season Two, where he was paired with Preethi. The duo won the title, and Tinku is in the seventh heaven. His dance master Ramash of RAACK Academy of Dance is all praise for him. “He gives rehearsals first priority, and has danced away nearly 10 kg from his once-chubby frame,” says Ramash. Blushing, Tinku says: “I had a great partner in Preethi.”

So, how did he rate his chances in the contest, where three couples vied for the top slot? “Well, we all put in a lot of hard work, and I wanted people to recognise that. Though there was a glimmer of hope that we might take home the crown, when it was announced, I felt there were about two thousand butterflies fluttering around.”

Preethi and he also won the ‘best performers’ title in five of the eight episodes they danced in.

What Tinku values in the programme is the sudden rush of popularity it has given him. “Even earlier, I had a good name. But, in just four months of the programme, it has doubled.”

So, what is he going to do with the prize money? “I have not thought much about it. Whatever it is, it will be for my daughter Lakshanaa,” says the happy father.

Has he ever rued the lack of a good break on the big screen? “No. I am happy with what I have. If I am destined to get a role, it will come knocking at my door.” He acted in two films, “Pranayageetham” in Malayalam (as yet unreleased) and “Jaya” in Tamil, before taking a break from the big screen. And, someday, he hopes to direct a film.

Ask him how difficult it was to come to terms with life after a decade of being in the spotlight as a child star, and he says: “I did not know anything other than ‘A B C’ till Class VI.” He is thankful to his sister Sonia who is of great help. “She messaged everyone asking them to vote for me in Jodi No 1,” he quips.

He did enjoy the advantages that came with being a known face. “I never had to wait in line for tickets at a theatre.

People would recognise me and ask me how I was long after I stopped looking like ‘Master Tinku’,” he smiles. His advice to the current crop of child actors is to decide early what they want to do, and work towards it.

SUBHA J RAO

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